National Fire Alarm Code Defined By NFPA 72

Smoke And Fire Alarms

NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm Code. The importance of installing smoke and fire alarms in homes is supported by results from exhaustive investigations of home fires indicating that measurable quantities of smoke come before detectable quantities of heat.

In other words, smoke generally comes before fire. Because this is true, smoke alarms are considered the primary means of protection against fire in homes.

Following are some interesting facts about home fires.

Chapter 29 of the National Fire Alarm Code specifically covers Single- and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Fire Alarm Systems. It contains the minimum requirements for the proper selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of fire warning equipment that will provide reasonable fire safety.

Chapter 29 also covers small residential board and care occupancies, which are defined as A building or portion thereof that is used for lodging and boarding of four or more residents, not related by blood or marriage to the owners or operators, for the purpose of providing personal care services.

In NFPA 72, Section 29.1.2, we find that the primary purpose of fire warning equipment is to provide a reliable means to notify the occupants of the presence of a threatening fire and the need to escape to a place of safety before such escape might be impeded by untenable conditions in the normal path egress. NFPA 72 is not intended to provide protection to property, 29.1.5.

This chapter deals with the types of smoke and heat alarms typically installed in one- and two-family dwellings.

These smoke and heat alarms are not classified as fire alarm systems. This chapter does not involve the more complex household fire alarm systems, but rather the devices and a fire alarm control unit(s) that receive, monitor, and process signals from detection devices.

These types of fire alarm systems communicate via telephone or wireless with a central station that in turn calls the fire department. Fire alarm systems are required to meet stricter rules regarding the sound level and time of audible signals. There are also tougher rules regarding sleeping area requirements.

Chapter 29 of the National Fire Alarm Code tells us where to install smoke and heat detectors and alarms in homes.

Article 760 in the National Electrical Code (NEC) tells us how to install the wiring for fire alarm systems. Section 29.3.2 of the National Fire Alarm Code states that fire warning equipment shall be installed according to the listing and manufacturer’s instructions.

Equally important is that there is nothing in the National Fire Alarm Code that will prevent injury or death if proper escape routes have not been planned, 29.4.2.

Fire warning devices commonly used in a residence are heat detectors, Figure 26-1, and combination smoke alarms/detectors, Figure 2.

The more elaborate systems connect to a central monitoring customer service center through a telephone line. These systems offer:

1. Instant contact with police or fire departments,
2. A panic button for emergency medical problems,
3. Low-temperature detection,
4. Flood (high-water) detection,
5. Perimeter protection,
6. Interior motion detection,
7. and other features.

All detections are transmitted first to the company’s customer service center, where personnel on duty monitor the system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They will verify that the signal is valid. After verification, they will contact the police department, the fire department, and individuals whose names appear on a previously agreed-on list that the homeowner prepared and submitted to the company’s customer service center.

Most communities require a special permit for the installation of fire warning equipment and security systems in homes, and require registration of the system with the police and/or fire departments.

In most instances, fire protection requirements are found in the building codes of a community and are not necessarily spelled out in the electrical code.

Whereas new work requires interconnected, hard-wired, battery backup smoke alarms, it might be acceptable on remodel jobs to install battery-powered-only smoke alarms for existing areas where interior walls or ceiling finishes are not removed to expose structural framing members. To install, interconnect, and hard-wire smoke alarms in these existing areas could result in damage to walls and ceilings, requiring patching, repainting, or other repairs-an uncalled for and tremendous expense.

If there is access from an attic, crawl space, or basement, the inspector might require interconnected, hard-wired, battery backup smoke alarms if you can do the job without having to remove interior finishes.

Check this out with your local inspector!

Reference: Electrical Wiring – Residential 17th ed. – R. Mullin (Get it from Amazon)